Yoshiwara: Tracing the Legacy of Japan's Most Famous Prostitution District Walking Tour

Jan 28, 2025 | News On Japan

Jan 28, 2025 (Video Street View Japan) - On the evening of January 20th, I began my walk at Minowabashi Station, a charming area filled with the nostalgic atmosphere of Japan’s Showa era.

Passing through the lively and retro shopping street, ‘Joyful Minowa,’ I headed south to the site of Yoshiwara, Japan’s most renowned pleasure district during the Edo period. Yoshiwara was a government-licensed prostitution area, a fascinating yet complex part of Japan’s history.

Today, the original pleasure quarters no longer exist, but traces of its past remain. I stopped by the iconic ‘Mikaeri Yanagi’ (Looking-back Willow Tree), where men once looked back with longing after visiting Yoshiwara. The paths leading to the district were deliberately designed in an S-shape to obscure the view of the area. At the entrance once stood the grand ‘Yoshiwara Omon’ gate, now marked by a modest replacement.

While many modern establishments still operate in the area, I chose to walk straight through the main street of Yoshiwara, from east to west, before continuing to Asakusa. This video captures the journey, blending the retro charm of Minowabashi with the rich, layered history of Yoshiwara.

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